Water amusement device simulating an animal



Oct. 3, 1967 c. D. TUCKER 3,344,755

WATER AMUSEMENT DEVICE SIMULATING AN ANIMAL Filed Jan. 10, 1966 CHESTER D. TUCKER I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,344,765 WATER AMUSEIVLENT DEVICE SHVIULATING AN ANIMAL Chester D. Tucker, Rte. 1, Box 18-A, Aledo, Tex. 76008 Filed Jan. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 519,789 1 Claim. (Cl. 115-34) This invention relates to water amusement devices and has reference to self-propelled vehicles wherein the body is in the shape of an animal. The shape of the body shown simulates a horse and a seat is provided therein for the rider. However, with sufiicient ballast, the top of the back may be closed for bareback riding by a swimmer or a saddle may be provided.

An object of the invention is to provide a propelled water amusement device wherein the body simulates an animal and wherein reins are used to control the forward, reverse and turning movements of the device.

A particular object is to provide a water device as referred to wherein the rein movement for controlling the device is the same as controlling a horse, that is, slack reins for going forward, tight reins for backing, and pulling one rein or the other for turning.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional and broken elevatiOnal view of a water amusement device according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the device illustrated in FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the engine and steering mechanism.

The form of the invention shown includes a hollow elongate body which may or may not include a seat 11. The forward end 12 of the body 10 is shaped to simulate the head of a horse and the rear end is provided with a tail 13.

Within the body '10 and located toward the forward bottom portion there is a cross member 14 on which there is an engine mount 15 comprised of vertical parallel sides 16 and a transverse plate 17 which also serves as a bearing for a propeller shaft 18. The propeller shaft 18 extends rearwardly through a bearing 19 in the body 10 and a propeller 20 is mounted on the extending end of the shaft.

Within the forward end of the body 10 and just rearwardly of the head 12 there is a transverse turning bar 21, the ends of which extend outwardly through horizontal slots 10a in the sides of the body. The bar 21 is mounted on and turns a short vertical shaft 22, which shaft is journalled in and extends a short distance beneath a bracket 23 secured to opposite side walls of the body 10. On the lower end of the shaft 22 there is a first steering arm 24 which is connected with an upper steering arm 25 on a vertical steering rod 26 by a link 27. The upper portion of the steering rod 26 is journalled in a bracket 28 attached to the forward wall of the body '10, whereas the lower end of the rod is journalled in a bearing 29 on the bottom of the body. Above the bearing 29 there is a lower steering arm 30 for operating a rudder 31.

The rudder 31 is mounted on a vertical shaft 32 which extends upwardly through a bearing 33 to the interior of the body 10. On the upper end of the shaft 32 there is another steering arm 34 which is connected with the lower steering arm 30 on the steering rod 26 by a steering link 35. The steering link 35 is curved so as to go around the engine mount 15.

On the forward upper corners of the sides 16 of the engine mount 15 there are projecting ears 36 having pins 37 therethrough which pivotally support the forward end of an engine 38 or other prime mover. The drive pulley 39 of the engine 38 is connected with a driven pulley 40 on the propeller shaft 18 by a pulley belt 41. The axes of the pulleys 39 and 40 are normally parallel and the weight of the engine 38 normally keeps the pulley belt 41 taut, in which position the device is moved forward. To move rearward the two pulleys 39 and 40 are brought into frictional contact. This is accomplished by pulling reins 42 which slidably extend through holes 43 in the ends of the turning bar 21 and thence to the upper ends of generally vertical arms 44 on the engine 38.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that loose reins will cause the device to move forward, pulling on the reins will cause the device to back and pulling on one rein or the other will cause the device to turn in the desired direction.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary construction herein shown and described, but may be made in various ways within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A water amusement device comprising a buoyant body in the form of an animal including a head at one end, a rudder mounted on said body at the other end, a steering mechanism connected with said rudder and including a turning bar extending from both sides of said body adjacent said head, a prime mover rearwardiy of said turning bar and pivotally mounted at its forward end in said body, said prime mover including a forwardly directed drive pulley, propelling means including a driven pulley beneath said drive pulley, a pulley belt around both said pulleys and of a length to support the unbalanced weight of said prime mover, and reins slidably extending through holes in the extending ends of said turning bar and connected with the upper portion of said prime mover.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,718,637 6/1929 De Pento -34 2,991,076 7/1961 Hale 2721 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. MAJOR, Assistant Examiner. 

